The Horror of Hiroshima

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2010

Today marks a sombre day in the annals of human history. On August 6, 1945, an atom bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. For the first time, a nuclear weapon was used to wage war. Three days later, on August 9, a second atom bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, Japan.

Apologists for the use of nuclear force against Japan argue that it ended the war sooner and that more lives would have been lost if Japan had been invaded by land. Dissenters counter that the war had already been won and that Japan was prepared to surrender. Some dissenters even argue that the military-industrial complex of the United States was determined to use the atomic bomb at some point because of the large amount of money spent on its development.

In defence of his decision to use a nuclear weapon on Japan, President Harry Truman stated, “We faced half a million casualties trying to take Japan by land. It was either that or the atom bomb, and I didn’t hesitate a minute, and I’ve never lost any sleep over it since.” I find Truman’s words difficult to believe. He must have done some tossing and turning in his sleep. It's not that I doubt Harry Truman's conviction that he made the correct choice. It's just that he was faced with such a heart-wrenching decision and he knew that innocent human lives would be lost. I have to question how anyone with a conscience could make such a momentous decision so easily and remain so unfazed by it.

Sixty-five years have passed since the atom bomb was unleashed on humanity. Whether one agrees with Harry Truman’s decision or not, it is indisputable that a terrible force was unleashed on that August day so many years ago. The United States remains the only country to have used the atom bomb as a weapon of war. The atomic bomb has never been used since. Nevertheless, a genie was let out of a bottle that day. The world has never been the same since. Once can only hope and pray that it never happens again.


SPORTS

The Blue Jays had a day off yesterday. On Wednesday, they lost the final game of their series at Yankee Stadium to the Bronx Bombers. The score was 5-1. A-Rod hit his 600th home room. It had to come sometime, but it's too bad it happened during a game with the Jays. Tonight the Blue Jays begin a new series against the Tampa Bay Rays at the dome. I still prefer to call it "SkyDome" rather than its bland, corporate moniker - Rogers Centre. If they had to use the Rogers name, at least they could have named the stadium "Rogers Field" or "Rogers Dome." "Rogers Centre" sounds like the name of a shopping mall or a hockey arena. Wait a minute! That's not too far off the mark. It is a shopping centre for Rogers products.

The Toronto Argonauts play Edmonton tonight in the Alberta capital. The Argos need to recover from their loss in Montreal and get back on track. Coach Jim Barker is intent on defending the play of quarterback Cleo Lemon. Okay, Jim, but he had better get that offence going soon. One more thing, Jim. It's not the smartest move to knock the media so overtly and so strongly.

- Joanne